The move went so well, everything was in the new Tahanto Regional Middle/High School by midday Saturday.

Although three days had been allocated, movers Saturday morning said they could almost have finished moving things Friday night, it went that well.

With 1,300 crates, hundreds of boxes, equipment, sports items, library materials, some furniture and more to move, items were loaded onto dollies and trailers and transported the few hundred feet to their new home.

“We were extremely pleased with the move,” Superintendent of Schools Nadine Ekstrom said. “The moving company and planning company did a fabulous job. The staff had everything nearly arranged for the movers and labeled appropriately for their rooms.”

Friday, students finished school at 2:15 p.m. and, as the buses moved out, the movers arrived ready to start the process.

Crates had arrived days before and been filled with things to move.

Files were moved, but first reviewed and substantial amounts of old files were shredded.

But that left plenty to move from the old building, where 50 years of accumulation was noticed in closet corners, items that fell behind desk drawers and mementos that could not be left behind.

“The move went very smoothly,” Principal Diane Tucceri said. “The movers arrived on Friday at 2:30 and all students and staff had left the building. They moved the first-floor classrooms, cafeteria tables and kitchen and began the second floor.

“The next morning, they completed the second floor, athletics, weight room equipment, band and baby grand piano. They were a well-oiled machine. What made it go so smoothly was that they had men at both buildings, several trucks and they were able to run it like an assembly line,” she said.

For teachers, it was a hectic final week, making sure things were packed up, lessons were still taught and everyone got their tour of the new building.

Last week, each class got a chance to see the new school. They got maps and were able to see where their new digs would be, although it may be a couple days before they develop their routines and remember where all their classes and lockers are. But it's a small enough school that they can't claim they got lost too many times before their teachers become suspicious they are just wandering the halls admiring the new building.

Principal Diane Tucceri “was amazing in her ability of having everyone prepared. We will be ready to have the students start on the third of January,” Ekstrom said.

“Our faculty and staff did a great job getting things packed up to make things easier for the movers,” Tucceri said.

“The next step is getting things unpacked. This will take a while since we are not familiar with the building. The faculty and staff will come in on Jan. 2, without students. This day we will hand out keys, access cards and train teachers on the phone system. They will also have some time to start unpacking.”

Students can't count on any delays, although many are eager to get to work in their new school.

“We will be ready to welcome the students on Jan. 3. There will still be some work going on at the building, but this will occur after school hours,” Tucceri said.

Some finishing work was not completed in time for the opening.

Dean Polnerow, chairman of the building committee, said Saturday that those details will be finished in the coming weeks, noting that any big project has numerous “punchlist” items even after the formal finish.

The key was getting the occupancy permit last week, which ensured all the crucial building and safety elements were up to snuff.

The move went well thanks to lots of help.

“We had parent volunteers help out classroom teachers, help monitor the cafeteria during lunches and pick up the pizzas for the students and staff for lunch on Friday,” Tucceri said. “This gave staff some last minute time to pack up remaining things in their classroom.”

Many students took advantage of a senior class fundraiser. For $5, they could pack up their locker in a box and have it moved to the new locker in the new building, ready for when students return to school Jan. 3 and walk into a brand new Tahanto.

“The student locker fundraiser raised a few hundred dollars for the senior class and they will be bringing the boxes over to the new building on Dec. 27,” Tucceri said.

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